ELECTRONIC PROGRAMMING GUIDE (EPG) AFFINITY CLUSTERS
First Claim
1. A method comprising:
- examining electronic programming guide (EPG) data to identify television programs scheduled in corresponding timeslots;
collecting metadata related to the identified television programs; and
forming one or more affinity clusters using the collected metadata.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Techniques are described in which electronic program guide (EPG) affinity clusters may be formed based upon an assumption that programs scheduled in corresponding timeslots are targeted to the same or similar audiences. In at least some embodiments, data for an EPG is examined to identify programs that are scheduled in timeslots designated as corresponding. Metadata related to the identified programs is collected. The metadata may include titles as well as cast/crew data related to the programs. One or more affinity clusters may be formed using the collected metadata to establish relationships between actors, directors, titles and other items of the metadata. The affinity clusters may be used to provide recommendations including recommendation to view, record, or set a reminder for programs according to the relationships established by the affinity clusters.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. A method comprising:
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examining electronic programming guide (EPG) data to identify television programs scheduled in corresponding timeslots; collecting metadata related to the identified television programs; and forming one or more affinity clusters using the collected metadata. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A method comprising:
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forming an affinity cluster that relates metadata describing cast and crew members associated with two television programs, one to another, based at least in part upon electronic programming guide (EPG) data indicating that the two television programs are scheduled in corresponding timeslots; and outputting a recommendation based upon the affinity cluster to recommend programs associated with at least some of the cast and crew members described by the related metadata. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. One or more computer-readable storage media comprising computer-executable instructions stored thereon that, in response to execution by one or more components of a computing system, cause the computing system to perform acts including:
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examining electronic programming guide (EPG) data to identify television programs scheduled in corresponding timeslots on a particular channel at a particular time in different time periods; configuring an affinity cluster to relate metadata describing at least cast members associated with the identified television programs one to another based upon scheduling of the programs in the corresponding timeslots; and outputting a recommendation according to the affinity cluster to recommend programs associated with at least some of the metadata related by the affinity cluster. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification